Summer is almost upon us and if you didn’t already know that
“summer bodies are made in the winter” fear not as you are about to be
inundated with magic diet pills and skinny teas to get yo’self bikini body
ready.I don’t know about anyone else
but I’m sick to death of finding something to be negative about everytime I
look in the mirror. Wishing I had smaller hips, bigger boobs or a six pack; imagining
how unreal a real life photoshop would be where you can tweak, erase and undo
as you please. (undo the sugar binge that you’re trying to forget happened
during your Netflix marathon session on Monday night or the Chinese you had
last night even though you’re on a “diet”...) It definitely doesn't help that I have a bit of an obsession with following Instagram fitness
accounts but it’s a bit of a love/hate kinda thing. Some days I feel so motivated that I wouldn’t
even look twice at a Double Decker or a Wispa Gold and on the other days? I’m
overcome with guilt as I lie in a heap covered in chocolate wrappers, dying a
little inside as I scroll further and further through my instagram feed.

Over the years, I’ve come to realise that as women we can’t
escape being exposed to things that centre around “losing weight”, “diets” and
being “thin” or “lean”, and they have become aspirations. Most magazines lure
us into buying their latest issue with headlines such as “Lose a dress size in
10 days” and there is always a celebrity promoting their latest “Bikini Body”
guide or somebody endorsing a new healthy eating plan or cookbook. I understand
there are many layers to the Body Image issue; on one hand there is no better
feeling than loving your body and feeling comfortable and confident with it but
this idea that losing weight or having a fit and toned body equates to happiness is unhealthy and unrealistic. As
women our bodies and our weight are constantly affected by hormone fluctuations;
one day you could look in the mirror and think “ARE THOSE TINY LINES THE ONSET
OF ABS? THANK.YOU.GOD!.. IF ANYONE NEEDS ANY ADVICE I CAN HELP 'CUZ I THINK I’VE
FIGURED IT ALL OUT NOW” and another day the bloat could be so real you can’t
bear to look at your own reflection. I know I’m guilty of this and I’m trying to
be more mindful of it. Trying my hardest not to let my happiness depend on how
flat my stomach looks on a particular day or let my self esteem go to shreds if
a photo is taken at a bad angle and OMG WHAT IF PEOPLE THINK I’VE PUT ON
WEIGHT!??? Isn’t this true though? We talk about someone being fat or putting
on weight as if it’s an immortal sin, as if they’ve just killed a dozen puppies
with their bare hands. God forbid someone is looking a bit bloated on a
particular day or someone is going through something that means going to the
gym is NOT a priority at the minute. You never really know what people are
going through and we’re so guilty of judging people; body shaming someone if
they’re too “fat”, too “thin”, too “muscular.” I can’t sit here and say I’ve
never had any of these thoughts about people, but I’m consciously trying to be
more body positive about myself and others. Constantly reminding myself that there are more fulfilling things to focus on rather than obsessing over what your body or someone else's looks like.

There are so many amazing things we are capable of doing as
women and it should not matter what our bodies look like. Whether someone is a
size 8 or a size 20, what’s it to us? Their value as a woman is still the same
and one is as capable as the other. Why am I even addressing this? Because we
are constantly bombarded with products and books telling us they can help us
lose weight. What is that really saying? Our bodies aren’t good enough as they
are? The thinner we are the better we are? It's really difficult to place the blame on anyone and we can't because we’ve been
conditioned to be this way. Weight loss and Fitness is a
multi-billion dollar industry, it profits from telling us we need to change
something about ourselves. It knows that as women, we love this idea that perfection
exists and are always intrigued by products that will bring us closer to that.
It’s the classic Adam and Eve situation, only in this case the forbidden fruit
is a magic diet pill and not an apple. The weight loss and fitness industry is
profiting from our insecurities, it is trying to lure us like the serpent in
the Garden of Eden and sometimes we need to draw attention to this. If you want to lose
weight or get fit then why are you doing it? Will it make you happy? Is it so
you can upload some photos onto social media? Is it to feel confident in a
bikini? Do you want people to notice you’ve lost weight? Sometimes we just need to reassess and make sure that what we are doing is for us and not because we feel like we have to change something. Ensuring our particular goal is a healthy and realistic one and we're not making ourselves miserable trying to attain it.

Images: @henn_kim on Instagram

FYI, I’m absolutely not bashing anyone who is on a weight-loss,
health or fitness journey - whatever it may be. Personally, I’m trying new
classes at the gym because I want to challenge myself and see what affect it
will have on my body. I know that I feel better when I exercise and eat healthy
but know that I shouldn’t feel guilty if I do nothing for a few days and if there hasn't been a salad consumed within those few days either. This is just a reality
check that I think some people may need, including myself. I’m just trying to
draw attention to the fact that it’s not really as common for us to see
articles in magazines or a post on social media telling us we are perfect just
as we are; that we don’t need to change our bodies. Happiness is something that
is so personal and unique to each one of us. Don’t let anyone make you feel as
though your happiness will grow as long as you shrink in size.

I know this might all sound a bit vain and pointless in contrast to other
things happening in the world but we can’t deny that it can be a battle to perceive our
bodies in a positive light EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. How many times have you looked in
the mirror while sucking in your stomach and twisting yourself into an angle
that a contortionist would be proud of and thought: “I’d be grand now if I
looked like this” or “I’ll be happy when I lose x amount of lbs.” Weight and
happiness cannot be measured on the same scale. I’ve been so thin that people
have asked me what I was doing to look that way I did and I would laugh and say "the vodka and
McDonald’s diet.” I was dancing six nights a week for four months on the West-end,
eating what I wanted, having the freedom to go on a night out whenever I pleased and not obsessing over my weight and you know what? My happiness
wasn’t a result of how my body looked at the time. It was to do with the once in
a life time experience I was having and the new friendships I’d made. When it
was over and I returned home for a few weeks, I naturally put some weight on. I
had to remind myself again and AGAIN that my previous weight wasn’t maintainable and I’d rather
be healthy and mentally sane than a few lbs lighter. I want to have a body that
I feel comfortable with; that’s fit, strong, healthy and that I don’t have to
kill myself to maintain it or count every calorie I consume. I’ll probably never
have a six pack and that’s ok.

Images: @henn_kim on Instagram

I came across a quote recently that really resonates with me
and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it: “don’t miss out on 95% of your life just to weigh 5% less.” Around the same time I read this I also came across a podcast by Leandra Medine
(of Man Repeller) featuring Drew Barrymore wherein Drew talks about her cosmetics range, her vineyard and Barrymore Wines, past relationships and her turbulent upbringing as a child star in Hollywood. It is really worth a listen and I especially loved Drew's comments regarding Body Image. I love how freely she admits things like: "So I have a little tyre around my waist? So What. I'm
Happy!" and "I don't wanna be thin and miserable. I can't do it." The thing I love most is how she explains that she is conscious not to criticize or say
anything negative about her own body in front of daughters Olive, 4 and
Frankie, 2 and says "I will always be showing my daughters that they need to live and they cannot put life on reserve to look a certain way."

These are just a few of my thoughts on Body Image and the Weightloss
and Fitness Industry. What do you make of it all? Do you feel pressured to look
a certain way? Do you feel that too much emphasis is placed upon looking a
certain way? Please let me know in the comments below, on Facebook or Instagram
or email me @ rachaelomc.blogspot.ie@gmail.com.

Remember:

HAPPINESS MEANS MORE THAN BEING A CERTAIN WEIGHT and YOU ARE
PERFECT JUST AS YOU ARE ;)

When I was 12 I had my first set of highlights so it's safe to say that I've had my fair share of hair disasters over the last 10+ years...
Everything from brassy yellow toned blonde to dodgy fringes and spiky layers and the biggest disaster: my hair falling out! I thought I would share my experiences with you to prevent you from making the same mistakes along with a few tips I've found that have made my hair grow back healthier and longer than ever.

My hair is naturally poker straight and has always been long and silky. That all changed when I was 16 and my hair started falling out in clumps until I was left with a handful of extremely damaged, broken hair. It was completely frazzled and I was DISTRAUGHT. As a self-conscious 16 year old, I felt like my world was ending; hilarious to look back on now and the definition of a "first world problem"- although I definitely would not want to go through that experience ever again! As someone who always had long hair, it was kinda my security blanket and I used it to compensate for my insecurities regarding my crooked and overcrowded pre- train tracked teeth.

My hair started falling out because every few weeks when I went back to get my roots touched up, the hairdresser I used to go to would bring the colour out to the ends which is NOT something that should be done. This should only be done every second or third time you get your highlights done and only if your hair needs it and the brassiness can't be counteracted with a toner. I switched hair dressers and thought something could be done to keep my hair long but that wasn't an option. I'll never forget the hairdresser in the new salon telling me that the breakage in my hair was so bad that she didn't even need scissors to cut it because it was snapping off as by itself. I had no choice but to get it cut short, tone the colour down and hope for the best... Luckily this was 2008 and Victoria Beckham had made the blonde bob the new "Rachel" (thanks Vicki B) and I tried my best to pull it off like the other 90% of the female population. My hair was WAY too short for extensions (I couldn't even tie it up anymore) so that wasn't an option. I remember looking in the mirror when I first had it cut and feeling SO nervous about going into school the next day. I know this sounds so frivolous in comparison to some of the current events happening in the world (again, epitome of first world problems) but as a women your hair can either be the root of you confidence (pun intended!) or one of your biggest insecurities. If you're going through something similar and don't have €600+ at your disposal to get bonded or beaded extensions then hopefully these tips will help you out!

If you want me to say I took those magic gummy bears and I had rapunzel-esque hair within 6 months, I can't. It grew back at a snails pace for the first year or so. Then within two and a half years it had grown from being too short to tie up to growing back down to my waist again- which was the longest it had been since I was about 14 and it has been like that for the last 7 or 8 years. I've learned a few things that have definitely sped up the growing process and have helped keep my hair in good condition; and I thought sharinbg them might help anyone who is having a hair dilemma or wants to keep their hair healthy.1. Only use heat when you have to
If you can let your hair dry naturally or if you can leave it so that you only have to partly blowdry it then do that.
If you can get away with styling it after you wash it and then leaving it like that for a day or two, then leave it. I have naturally straight hair and I remember straightening it everyday just because everyone else did even though my hair didn't need it!? When my GHDs broke I never replaced them...
If you don't have a heat spray you can get one for less than a tenner in boots. I only spray this through my hair when it's damp so the bottle will last for ages.

2. Get ALL the dead ends chopped off
I just don't understand why people pay to get their hair coloured and then refuse to get the ends cut because they're trying to let it grow. I don't know where the science comes into this but in my personal experience getting the ends cut always helps my hair grow faster (as long as you're looking after it).
Looking back, I think having to get a bob was the best thing that happened because it allowed my hair to grow back fuller and healthier than before (and faster). 3. Hair oil is your BFF
This is only something I've been religiously using in the last 3-4 years and the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil is my absolute favourite and I go through bottles upon bottles of this (it even has heat protection included in it).I apply a few drops to my hair when its wet and brush it through and then when it's dry I apply a tiny bit more. I use it most days and especially when I feel like my hair needs it. I don't find that this makes my hair greasy but everyone is different so maybe use it sparingly to start with to see how it works for your hair.

4.Buy a Tangle Teezer
I've been using one of these for years and I would never use anything else now. Unlike normal hairbrushes these don't pull or snap your hair when you brush it so it helpsprevent hair from splitting and breaking.

5.Get regular trims
Following on from point number 3 I get my hair cut EVERY time I get highlights which is every 8-10 weeks. Every few monthsI get 2-3 inches cut off, sometimes more, and it ALWAYS grows back. This is key in helping your hair grow and keeping it looking healthy and fresh!

6.Patience
If your hair is brown and you want it to be white blonde in 1-2 sittings it isn't gonna happen and trust me it's not worth ruining it in the process. I know that there is an olaplex treatment to help with this process but it's not a miracle worker. We all know how long it can take for hair to grow back so I'm sure you don't want it to be frazzled and then have to go through the whole trying to let it grow process.

7.Enquire about Revoplex & Olapex treatments at your salon
I have silvery white blonde hair and I used the olaplex treatment when I wanted to get rid of my ombre and go back to an all over blonde. I'd built the silvery blonde colour in the ends of my hair over time and didn't think I would be able to get an all over match so soon- without going through the brassy stage. However, the olaplex treatment allowed me to be able to match the root colour to the same silvery blonde as my ends with ZERO damage.8.Find a hairdresser that you trust
If you go to a different salon everytime you get your hair done, it's gonna be hard for each hairdresser to know exactly what you want. I know that my hairdresser will give me the best advice and advise me against something if she knows it won't work or will ruin my hair. I always trust her to cut as much off the ends as I need and I always leave the salon knowing my hair is healthy and feeling happy with the outcome. It's important that you feel comfortable and trust them because you're leaving your hair (literally!) in their hands.

Please enjoy these dodgy AF photos from back in the day up until now.. CRINGE!

I thought I would do a quick review of the L'Oreal Pure Clay Detox Mask as this range has featured quite heavily in my social media feed over the last few months. I actually received this as part of a Christmas skincare hamper but because I travel so much and haven't really been home, I only got around to trying it out last week.

There are three masks available in the Pure Clay range and each of them contain 3 pure clays + 1 specialised ingredient (red algae, eucalyptus or charcoal).

What masks are available in this range?

Glow mask: brightens + exfoliates.

Purity mask: purifies + mattifies.

Detox mask: detoxifies + clarfies,

What are the benefits of using a clay mask on your skin?

Kaolin + Charcoal (2 of the ingredients in the Detox Mask) are mineral rich and work together to gently absorb impurities to balance and purify your skin.

The clay gently exfoliates and your skin should feel purer and clearer and more luminous after use.

How do you apply it and does it work?

The product comes in a glass jar with a screw top and plastic seal over the clay itself. I would suggest keeping it and not discarding it, otherwise the clay might leak from the jar. It's quite messy and I would recommend applying a thin layer with a flat foundation brush to minimise mess. I left this on for 10-15 mins and washed the product off with warm water.

Would you recommend this product?

If you're looking for a nice budget friendly mask to add to your weekly skincare routine I think this would make a good addition. It didn't have any groundbreaking results for me but my skin did feel nice, refreshed and more luminous after using this.
3.5/5

The L'Oreal Clay Mask range retails at £7.99 and is currently on offer for £5.29 in Superdrug.

I LOVE trying out new products and I always look to other bloggers for their honest reviews and opinions before I go and buy them myself. I bought a few makeup and skincare items recently and have been putting them to the test over the last few weeks. I feel that I have given them a proper test run and can give a more honest review of them now.

This haul is a mish mash of new products and repurchases such as Benefit's Hoola,POREfessional and the Eyelure Lashes.

I have definitely found some new favourites within this bunch and was most impressed with the Camomile Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop and the Dragon's Blood Fix Daily Cleansing Pads by Nip+Fab. .

Camomile Cleansing Butter, The Body Shop, £13

Camomile is known for it's soothing and purifying properties and this cleanser is suitable for all skin types. It takes off eye makeup without the stinging or dragging effect and leaves skin feeling hydrated instead of dry and tight. I will definitely repurchase this again.

Exaggerate Eyelashes in no.140 & 141, Eyelure London, £5.45 ea

If you have hooded eyes like me and want a full, dramatic lash for evening time, both of these lashes are perfect! The 140s are fuller and give a graduated effect whereas the 141s are more of a wispy style with the inner, middle, end lashes all being the same length. I always cut off a small section of the inner corner of the lashes as I find that they are too wide and end up dragging my eye down at the outer corners if I don't. Both styles are longtime favourites of mines and I always find myself gravitating back towards them.

Hoola Mini 4g, Benefit, £9.95

I haven't used this bronzer in years but I know that it is a cult favourite. I recently ran out of my Smashbox contour and wanted to try something different. After hearing so many great reviews about Hoola I decided to try it again. I didn't want to commit to buying the full size in case I didn't like it so the mini travel size was perfect and because I travel alot it made sense to get a smaller size anyway. It's very pigmented, easy to blend and is a lovely ashy, cool tone that gives a very natural contour.

The POREfessional Mini 8ml, £9.95
This is definitely my holy grail primer and know it is a favourite for many others too. It just does exactly what it is supposed to do - minimise pores and create an even base for foundation. If I have any dry patches it glides over them and doesn't flake anywhere which gets a huge thumbs up from me. I've tired other primers both high end and cheaper alternatives but I always gravitate back to this product.

Mac Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Stone, £15.50
This is one that I have always admired on others but never thought I'd be brave enough to try this myself. It is a very grey toned brown but it is surprisingly wearable and does not leave teeth looking yellow. It is a matte texture so it stays well but can get very drying after a while.

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray 30ml, £10
This is a very refreshing spray that can be in the same way as Mac Fix+ - before you apply your base or if your makeup is starting to appear cakey after a few hours wear. This is a nice product to have but it's not a holy grail for me and I have found other products to have the same effect on my skin such as a thermal water spray that is a third of the price. (You can get the Avéne Eau Thermale spray in Boots for £3).

So that concludes my mini beauty haul! Have you tried anything recently that is a new favourite? Please let me know!

First of all before I get into why these two products are my holy grail of skincare, I need to apologize for being MIA. Dancing became my full time job in October and things became so hectic I just didn't have the time to post anything worthwhile; and then of course, the longer you leave it the harder it is to come back... (I'm not even sure if I know what I'm doing.)

If things do become a bit quiet on here again, you can follow what I'm upto by adding me below!

www.facebook.com/rachaelomc

IG: @rachaelomc

Snapchat: @rachaeloblog

Anyway, now that that's out of the way I can get back to what this post is really about!

I started using the Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil along with the Vitamin E Intensive Moisture Cream more than a year ago. My skin type is dry-normal but usually more on the dry side. When it is going through a rough patch it is literally that. Rough patches EVERYWHERE.

So I began searching reviews online of affordable products targeted towards dry skin. When I saw that Skincare Queen +Caroline Hirons approved of the Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil I knew I had to try it.

The Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil is £15 and the Vitamin E Intensive Moisture Cream is £13; however, The Body Shop also sell these in a set for £20 which is much better value and the one I keep repurchasing.

I have to agree with their claims as the thing I love most about this oil is that it really absorbs into the skin. You can feel it working and doesn't sit on top leaving a greasy film behind like many other products I've tried over the years.

I apply a few drops of the oil at night, leave it to absorb for a few minutes and the apply the Vitamin E Intensive Moisture Cream on top.

If my skin is feeling quite dry before I put makeup on, I will apply a drop or two before I use my day time moisturiser.

If you have dry-normal skin and it feels a bit on the dry side or is looking quite lacklustre in general, definitely try this Vit E duo. You'll be as hooked as I am!

Period. Such a natural and normal part of being a girl yet still a taboo subject! We all have it yet no one likes to talk about it and the majoirty don't like to see that "time of the month" come around... (sounds as if I'm speaking in riddles!)

No matter what your Period experience is, its usually quite an unpleasant one and what better way to cheer you up than a box full of essentials and carefully packed goodies! I was kindly sent this Monthly Subscription Box from My LadyBug and think it is such a fab idea, I thought I'd share it with you.

Personally I get really bad PMS in the lead up to my period, usually wake up in the middle of the night with painful cramps and often feel dizzy and light headed. I am usually in bad form and like nothing more than to chill out with a mountain of chocolate, a hot water bottle and herbal tea.

The Subscription Box from MyLadyBug can be tailored to suit your needs and you can chose exactly what kind of Tampons and/or Sanitary Towels you want included in your box. You also get a supply of chocolate and some herbal tea in a little pouch. (I always use these handy pouches to carry earrings and dainty jewellery when I'm travelling.)

MyLadyBug believe in taking the drama out of your period and I fully support this concept! Boxes are priced at €9.99 + FREE shipping & you can cancel at any time. To avail of a 15% discount off your first box use my discount code "RBLOG" on MyLadyBug !

All subscription boxes are dispatched monthly on 19-21st; allow 5 days for delivery & re-billing is on the 31st or 1st after you receive your first box.